HSA Candidates
The following is the slate of candidates for open HSA Positions:
Co-President: (1 position available, 2-year term)
- Biography of Chris Dietz: I’m a Lafayette Dad of Olivia, a rising 4th grader, and future student Liam; last year served as 1st VP, working closely with our Board to manage budget and ensure donations generate the greatest value for our school community. I have also been a room parent the last four years as well as supporting the HSA as communications co-chair and in improvements to the website over the last two years. Having served on other boards at my son’s nursery school and as President of a large sports organization in the DMV, I look forward to serving as your co-president and continuing to deliver the greatest value to the student, staff, and our parents.
Vice President 1: (1 position available, 1-year term)
- Mallory Parets: Mallory is a Lafayette mom to a kindergartener (Zachary) and currently serves as one of the HSA’s two Room Parent Coordinators. She spent more than a decade as a high school math teacher and continues to work in education. Mallory looks forward to collaborating with the rest of the HSA Board to thoughtfully manage the budget and support the Lafayette community.
Vice President 2: (1 position available, 1-year term)
- Karrenthya Simmons: Karrenthya is the parent of a first grader and currently serves as one of the two co-treasurers for the HSA. Professionally, she works in audit, risk and controls, and compliance and has lived in the District of Columbia for almost 20 years.
Co-Treasurer: (1 position available, 2-year term)
- Brian Williams: I am the father to twin second-graders (rising 3rd) and a soon to be kindergartner. I am a Mortgage Broker with over 15 years of experience helping people get into their dream home. I’m grateful to have the Lafayette Community and look forward to serving on the HSA as co-treasurer.
LSAT Candidates
The following are the candidates for the Local School Advisory Team (LSAT) for Lafayette – 4 Open Positions
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Biography of Robyn Barnard: Robyn is the mum of three kids: a current rising first grader at Lafayette (who also completed PK4 at LES) and twins who will hopefully join the school in a couple of years in PK. My day job is as a lawyer at a non profit focused on the rights of people seeking asylum in the US. She loves to travel, read books, and enjoys living in this amazing community of CC DC!
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Biography of Farrah Buff: Hello Lafayette Community! It’s been a privilege to represent parents on the LSAT the past two years, and I hope to do so again next year. We have boys in 1st and 3rd grades. I’ve spent my professional life in the federal government working on child nutrition and early childhood education policy and budget. Most recently, I led stakeholder engagement and legislative affairs for the federal agency responsible for school meals programs, and I hope to put my skills to use. As an LSAT member, I’ll continue working to ensure that the school community has a voice in strategic planning and priorities and to build a stronger connection with the HSA. Specifically, I’d like to work with the LSAT to create more regular opportunities for parents, teachers, and staff to share feedback and weigh in on important decisions constructively. Like so many, our family was drawn to the neighborhood by the community and schools, and I am eager to do my part to support both. Thank you in advance for your consideration!
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Biography of Sarah Cohen: My name is Sarah Cohen, and I am the mother of Ethan in Grade 4 and Ryan in Grade 3. My family joined the Lafayette community 4 years ago, and we have been incredibly grateful for our experience. Although we live in Takoma, DC, on the other side of Rock Creek Park, we truly feel like we won the lottery—both literally and figuratively—to be part of this wonderful school community. Professionally, I am an educator and mental health professional with over two decades of experience supporting children and families. I began my career as an elementary school teacher and currently work part-time as a School Counselor in Title I Elementary school in Montgomery County, MD. Since joining Lafayette, I’ve stayed actively involved through volunteering, chaperoning field trips, and supporting school initiatives. For the past two years, I’ve had the privilege of serving on the LSAT as we transitioned from one administrative team to another. It has been a meaningful experience working alongside administrators, teachers, staff, and families to support Lafayette’s mission and vision. My professional background gives me insight into school operations, budgeting, school climate, and student support systems. I believe strong schools are built when staff, leadership, and families feel supported—and that creates the conditions for students to thrive. One of Lafayette’s greatest strengths is its commitment to all families, both in-boundary and out-of-boundary. As an out-of-boundary parent, I value bringing a broader perspective and helping ensure all voices are represented. I would be honored to earn your vote and continue serving on the LSAT for one final term during the 2026–2027 school year. Thank you for your time, support, and commitment to our Lafayette community!
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Biography of Jennifer McAlister: My name is Jennifer McAlister and I am the parent of two DCPS students; one is a 3rd grader at Lafayette ES and the other is a 6th grader at Alice Deal MS. I am an Assistant Teacher with FoodPrints in their aftercare program at John Burroughs ES, where we provide gardening, food, cooking, and nutrition education. My past work experience includes project management on large construction projects in the DC area which ranged in size from $20M to $800M for both public and private clients; I was responsible for budget and contract administration. As a military spouse, I was an advisor to family readiness groups, helping families prepare for deployment, homecoming, and adjusting to the challenges of military life. I have also volunteered with several nonprofit organizations providing food and nutrition education to at-risk youth. While living overseas I volunteered with the American Red Cross in their efforts to support military service members and their families. I believe my prior experiences with budget management and supporting families make me a good candidate for the LSAT.
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Biography of Morgann Reeves: Happy almost end-of-school-year, Lafayette community! My name is Morgann Reeves, and I’m the proud mom of a current first grader and pre-kindergartner. I’m excited to be running for a second term on the LSAT. My expertise as a strategist allows me to bring a thoughtful and unique lens to the advisory council, balancing long-term vision with practical solutions that support students, families, teachers, and the broader school community. If elected, I would be honored to continue contributing my professional experience, collaborative approach, and deep commitment to Lafayette in service of our wonderful community.
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Biography of Jacqueline Sanchez: I’m a new member of the Chevy Chase community, having moved from Capitol Hill in October with my husband and our two daughters, ages 5 and 2. Our older daughter will begin kindergarten at Lafayette Elementary School this fall, and I’m excited to become more involved in supporting the school community through LSAT service. I am passionate about ensuring that all parent perspectives are represented as we work with school leadership to find both short- and long-term solutions that provide the best possible public education for every student. I care deeply about creating age-appropriate approaches to technology in the classroom that promote critical thinking, empathy, and strong social-emotional learning, while bringing together the perspectives of teachers, parents, students, and administrators to shape thoughtful solutions. I’m also committed to helping every child feel safe, supported, and valued at school—especially in Lafayette’s large and diverse elementary school community. As a proud product of public education myself, I believe strong schools require active partnership from the entire community, and I would be honored to contribute to that effort through LSAT service.
